Letter from the Principal

Hello Bobcats and Families,

Dear Eastmont Junior High Families,
We are excited to welcome you back for the 2025–2026 school year! My name is Elia Alailima-Daley, and I’m
honored to serve as the principal of Eastmont Junior High School. Supporting your students alongside me are
Ms. Holly Cornehl and Mr. Jared Jaeger, our fantastic assistant principals. Please don’t hesitate to reach out
— we’re here to help however we can!At Eastmont Junior High, your student’s growth and well-being are at the heart of everything we do. We
believe that when schools and families work together, students thrive. If you’re on campus, feel free to stop by
and say hello — our doors are always open for questions, conversations, or new ideas.

Updates This Year
Grade-Level Learning Pods
We will continue using grade-level learning pods this year to better support student success.
● 7th grade in the 600 wing
● 8th grade in the 900 wing
● 9th grade in the 800 wing
This structure allows staff to work more collaboratively and provide timely academic and behavioral support.
We encourage students to stay within their pods throughout the day to help build stronger grade-level
communities and improve supervision and support.

➡️ New in 7th Grade: We’re introducing an English/Social Studies Block — this pairing allows for deeper
learning connections and a smoother, more engaging classroom experience for students.
CAT Time Continues
CAT (Catch All Time) will continue this year as we transition it into a dedicated intervention block. This means
teachers will focus this time specifically on students who need additional academic support.
Held every Tuesday and Thursday after 2nd period, CAT Time will be used for:
● Late or missing assignment help
● Test retakes or makeups
● Targeted reteach sessions
● Small group or individual support
This shift will help us use the time more intentionally and ensure students get the help they need to succeed.
Cell Phones & AirPods
To keep our classrooms focused and distraction-free:
● Cell phones and earbuds/AirPods are not allowed during class time
● Each classroom has a phone holder for secure storage during instruction
Please remember that the school and district are not responsible for lost or damaged personal
devices. You can find more info in board procedure 3245-P.

Dress Code Reminder
As we gear up for a new year, please be aware of the district’s dress code expectations. Our goal is to help
students learn the importance of dressing appropriately for a professional environment. Before those back-to-
school shopping trips, check out board policies 3224 and 3224-P for guidance.

Attendance Matters
Being at school — and on time — is one of the best ways students can set themselves up for success. The
school day begins promptly at 7:45 AM, and students are expected to be in their seats when the bell rings.
There are three-minute passing periods between classes, so students will need to move quickly to stay on
time.
Frequent absences and tardies can create gaps in learning, so we ask for your support in:
● Planning appointments outside of school hours
● Encouraging your student to be at school every day, ready to learn
First-period tardies will be tracked and may result in consequences, so please plan accordingly.
Together, we can help every student build strong attendance habits and get the most out of their time at
Eastmont.

Important Dates to Start the Year
● August 26, 2025 – Bobcat Day! More information to come.
● August 27, 2025 – 7th Grade Orientation Day (Only 7th graders attend)
→ Plus, join us that evening for our Family Back-to-School BBQ & Information Open House!
● August 28, 2025 – All students attend (7th, 8th, and 9th grade)

Our team is hard at work preparing for a great start to the year, and we can’t wait to see our students back in
the building. Here's to an incredible school year ahead!

Warm regards,

Elia Alailima-Daley, Principal
Holly Cornehl, Assistant Principal
Jared Jaeger, Assistant Principal